Steve – I am preparing to install an anchor windlass on my light displacement 43′ sloop. Primary anchor is a 45# CQR with 75′ of 3/8 HT chain + 250′ 5/8" nylon rode. Secondary anchor is a Fortress FX-37 with 25′ of 3/8 HT chain + rode. I will carry a 100# Luke storm anchor. My question is how to manage multiple anchor lines/chains with a single windlass. I would prefer a low profile vertical windlass to keep weight down and stay out of the foredeck crew’s way when racing, and am willing to live with rope/chain splice and redoing same when any splice wear starts to show. But I do not believe this will enable handling two anchor rodes? Adding a drum to the vertical windlass will handle the second rope rode, but not the chain. What do you suggest? Thank you. – Bill
Bill: You can use a vertical windlass – chain on the gypsy at the bottom of the windlass with the second anchor rode onto the warping drum on the top of the windlass. The alternative is to have a horizontal windlass with a separate gypsy and warping drum.
We favor the single vertical approach as we rarely anchor on two hooks, preferring to put most of our anchor weight in a single hook. In your case, we’d switch to 5/15" schedule seven chain and put the weight savings into the primary anchor. Also, look at the Spade/Rocna type hooks as these offer better holding in a wider variety of bottoms than the CQR. – Steve
Posted by Steve Dashew (November 30, 1999)
